Bravely Second: End Layer

 3DS
Bravely Second: End Layer Image
Metascore
81

Generally favorable reviews - based on 70 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
8.2

Generally favorable reviews- based on 209 Ratings

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  • Summary: The successor to Square Enix’s Bravely Default game. Time has passed since the events of the previous game, bringing about plenty of new dangers to encounter. Agnés Oblige has been kidnapped, and as a knight in her service, it’s up to our hero, Yew, to save her.
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Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 58 out of 70
  2. Mixed: 12 out of 70
  3. Negative: 0 out of 70
  1. Digitally Downloaded
    Mar 7, 2016
    100
    Traditional where it needs to be, and wildly humorous when it wants to, this is the perfect follow up to the spectacularly successful original title.
  2. Meristation
    Feb 22, 2016
    90
    The team behind Bravely Second put forth a big effort and love while creating the game that's easy to spot in every detail. Despite being a direct sequel sharing similar graphics, music and gameplay with its predecessor, the interesting new plot, that will keep the player anxious to know more; and the well designed battle system, that makes it fun to level up, make this title stand out as one of the best RPG ever made not only for Nintendo 3DS, but overall.
  3. USgamer
    Apr 13, 2016
    90
    Bravely Second: End Layer is a worthy follow-up to Bravely Default, which in itself is one of the best RPGs on the Nintendo 3DS. Granted, if Bravely Default didn't move you the first time around, Bravely Second probably won't, either. For better or worse (but mostly better), it's a straight-up second helping of its predecessor.
  4. IGN Sweden
    Mar 15, 2016
    82
    Bravely Second is an old school roleplaying game, done in a modern way.
  5. RPGamer
    Apr 8, 2016
    80
    Although it's not going to win over those who struggled to get into Bravely Default from the early going, Bravely Second should hold great appeal for everyone else.
  6. Power Unlimited
    Feb 26, 2016
    78
    This is a how a traditional JRPG is meant to be. Fans of that genre get exactly what they want but don’t expect any radical improvements on the classic conventions. [jan. 2016 / page 068]
    All this publication's reviews
  7. Kill Screen
    Jun 23, 2016
    50
    By trying to optimize it, the brave/default system inadvertently lays bare the arbitrariness structuring the player’s relation to the game, the role one ostensibly plays becoming repeatable and, indeed, automatable in yet another striking parallel to the looming “new economy.”

See all 71 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

Write a Review
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 19 out of 36
  2. Mixed: 12 out of 36
  3. Negative: 5 out of 36
  1. carlvazq_
    May 6, 2017
    10
    Best JRPG of Nintendo 3DS, long and excellent game with an absorbing and shocking story. A beautiful art design with brilliant scenes. ThereBest JRPG of Nintendo 3DS, long and excellent game with an absorbing and shocking story. A beautiful art design with brilliant scenes. There are so many reason to play this JRPG master piece,… Expand
  2. Vladamir8
    Mar 21, 2023
    10
    this game is the best game I have ever played hands down, everything about it is phenomenal
  4. Darormor
    Apr 15, 2016
    10
    I've never played the first game, but anyone that is a fan of RPG's in general should check this game out. It's not a buy a 3ds just for thisI've never played the first game, but anyone that is a fan of RPG's in general should check this game out. It's not a buy a 3ds just for this game type deal, but it comes very close.… Expand
  5. iipotato
    Jun 29, 2016
    8
    This review will suit more for returning players of the series and will have hints of spoilers.

    Bravely Second is a game that I anticipated    This review will suit more for returning players of the series and will have hints of spoilers.

    Bravely Second is a game that I anticipated for ever since I finished Bravely Default. And I have to say that there were many moments in the game which made me remember how excited I was for Bravely Second's release.

    Story: 7/10. Bravely Second's story is rather well-rounded in a way that involves the entire cast--be it asterisks and main party members and all. I have to say that it is the sidequests that interested me quite a bit, may I say that one specific sidequest definitely caught my attention because it gave me Bravely Default nostalgia. Anyways, the stories of the asterisk holders feel carefully thought out. Like the preceding game, Bravely Second explores the asterisk holders as characters--though, in Bravely Second, I find that the asterisk holders this time around expressed their personality entirely throughout their appearances. The main story, too, has a nice build up, however, the ending may leave you with an incomplete feeling. I felt like many things left unanswered in BD was fulfilled, yet BS leaves me with more. Also, the way the last battle plays out..is kinda...weird? The plot twist had potential, but...it was carried out rather awkward and rushed.

    Characters: 8/10. I have to admit, I probably was more critical of the new characters rather than the old. Due to different writers, the old characters feel a little different. But I think that despite the cheesy text in the beginning chapters or so, it's worth brushing it aside and just watching the characters grow.

    Music: 6/10. It's not as memorable and catchy as BD, due to quite the overuse of electric guitars, but there are songs that make me feel emotional and pumped whatnot. You can tell though, that effort was put into making the music fit each moment.

    Jobs: 9/10. I really enjoyed mixing up the jobs in this game and I already really liked doing so in BD as well. There's about 5 jobs in BD that do not carry over into BS, but there's new jobs that actually are similar in terms of skill but not in appearance. Instead of LV 14 max, it's 10 or 11. It's actually not quite difficult to max out jobs once you hit the mid/late chapters. There's spots you can definitely grind in, too. But grinding is not as heavily-encouraged like in BD. I maxed out my characters at LV 99, and yet many beat the game at like 50/60..maybe that's just me HAHA. But anyways, I think maxing out jobs has been made easier because there's a lot of good skills from the 30 jobs available that you want to choose.

    TLDR for a returning fan; The music may not be as memorable and the main story may feel awkward at times, but the side quests are pretty thorough, many characters are lovable, and you don't have to rage at the difficulty as much as before in the last game (if you did).    … Expand
  6. Zastrow
    Mar 18, 2018
    7
    The combat mechanics and job system are refined a bit from the first game. It's overall a decent game but dragged down with really bizarreThe combat mechanics and job system are refined a bit from the first game. It's overall a decent game but dragged down with really bizarre dialogue between the characters. The writers couldn't decide if they were writing unfunny cheesy comedy or a serious story, as the script constantly shifts gears between them. I still played the game all the way through and had a mostly enjoyable time, but the game could have been better.… Expand
  7. robogiraffe
    Mar 17, 2021
    6
    The combat system is amazing, since it's just a slightly enhanced version of the original. This game could've been a 10/10 if it was basedThe combat system is amazing, since it's just a slightly enhanced version of the original. This game could've been a 10/10 if it was based solely on the combat, but that's not how reviews work. Unfortunately, the rest of the game is sorely lacking. The OST is terrible, the characters are annoying, the writing in general is just plain bad and not as funny as they think. There's a huge tonal shift from the first game and it just feels out of place. And why did they change the pronunciation of Edea's name? Oh right, to make one stupid pun. Seriously, the names in this game are truly horrible.… Expand
  8. Koru
    Oct 3, 2020
    2
    Continuing a brand new and great JRPG series, Bravely Second takes everything the first game did and poo-poos all over it. Take away yourContinuing a brand new and great JRPG series, Bravely Second takes everything the first game did and poo-poos all over it. Take away your favorite characters from the first game and replace them with a 1-D French girl from mars… Expand

See all 36 User Reviews

Awards & Rankings

14
#14 Best 3DS Game of 2016
13
#13 Most Discussed 3DS Game of 2016
10
#10 Most Shared 3DS Game of 2016